Why we need "Happily Ever After"
Before coming to the bookstore as an employee, I was never much of a Romance genre reader. It just did not appeal to me and I really did not see what place it held as a genre of choice. Well, was I EVER wrong about that. Thanks to some very Romance savvy colleagues, I now much appreciate the value of a good romance. Regardless of the type of romance that you read (Paranormal Romance, Regency Romance, Cowboy Romance, Queer Romance, Spicy Romance, Rom-com, even Space Alien Romance), you are always guaranteed an "HEA"--a "Happily Ever After". And these days with all of the serious matters that plague our society and occupy our thoughts, a little escapist HEA is a welcome diversion. A chance to be a part of someone's HEA is a true treat and the reminder that life can be good and happy endings do happen (even if between the covers of a book).
Too often Romance novels get "pooh poohed" and written off as trash or are considered not "real" literature. Ba humbug! For anyone who does not claim to like romance, I challenge that you simply have not found the right HEA. For those who are thinking about the Romance novels of the past, there are so many more incredibly creative and modern Romance novelists writing. I am simply floored by the quality and variety of Romance novels that come in the bookstore on a weekly basis. I firmly believe that Romance novelists are the most optimistic and hopeful of all writers and love that they gift us with their vision and stories.
My most recent reads on the recommendations of my colleagues have been Mazey Edding's Brush with Love (who knew that a Dentist romance could be so sweet and poignant?) and Julie Whelan's Thank You For Listening (a hysterical laugh-out-loud Rom-Com about narrators of Romance audio books). Who knew that I needed these in my life? My colleagues obviously and I continually thank them for sharing these stories with me. Because in light of the difficult circumstances that we as a state and nation find ourselves in, I could use all the hopefulness and HEA karma that I can get.
In fact, I have made it my mission to spread the love (as it were) and sent my daughter, the engineer, Ali Hazelwood's Loathe to Love You, which is billed as a "collection of steamy, STEMinist novellas featuring a trio of engineers and their loves in loathing". Perfect, engineers in love!!! And I anticipate that she will pass this book and a healthy dose of HEA on to her friends when she finishes it. So if your days sometimes feel a little dark and you need a little sunshine in your life, stop by the Romance section and grab a book. You won't be sorry and maybe, just maybe, a little HEA will come your way.
And if you already love Romance or just want to see what all the fuss is about, author Mazey Eddings will be joining us for a Virtual Book Release for her new book The Plus One on Tuesday, April 18, 7 p.m. on CrowdCast. You can find out more and register HERE! The event is free and open to the public and The Plus One is available for pre-order today. (And just a quick recommendation, it's good!)